Honoring Dr. Orouba and Halla Barakat

Karam Foundation is deeply saddened to hear about the senseless murder of Dr. Orouba Barakat and her daughter, Halla Barakat. Both Barakat women were staunch supporters of the Syrian people’s struggle for freedom and justice, with Dr. Orouba an outspoken member of the Syrian National Council and Halla a journalist for Orient News. Karam Foundation calls on the international community to do more to protect Syrians both in Syria and abroad.

Dr. Orouba Barakat was a firm believer in women’s empowerment and the right to a sustainable living; while in Turkey, she created programs designed to help refugee women achieve economic self-sustainability, by bringing their handmade textiles to the local marketplaces of Istanbul.

In honor of these women and their dedication to Syria’s women, Dr. Orouba’s sister, Shaza, has launched this campaign to support the creation of a women’s entrepreneurship program in Idlib, Syria, which will allow local women to sew, crochet, and knit textiles and clothing, and prepare hot foods, packaged foods, and seasonal spices, in order to sell them to nearby homes and businesses. Karam Foundation is proud to partner with Shaza Barakat in establishing the facility.